Car-coupling



(No Model.)

W. J. BONNER. GAR COUPLING.

Patented July 23, 1889.

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I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VHITMILL J. BONNER, OF MONTAGUE, TEXAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,430, dated July 23, 1889.

Application filed April 11, 1889. Serial No. 306,889. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WHITMILL J. BONNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montague, in the county of Montague and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a car-coupling constructed in accordance with my invention, showing it applied to a car. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the locking jaws or latches. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the arrow-head link. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the link with flattened sides, to be used with the ordinary coupling-pin. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the jaws and draw-head with the top of the latter removed.

The draw-head A is secured to the bottom of the car, at the endiof the same, and is provided with the openings Bin its sides, through which the locking jaws or latches 0 pass. The openings B have their upper walls inclined slightly upward and outward at the outer ends, so as to allow the movement of the latcheswithout causing the same to bind and wear against the said openings. The ends of the latches also are beveled slightly on their under sides, so that they will not bind on the bottom of thedraw-head. The latches are provided on their outer sides with vertical shoulders D, which are adapted to engage against the sides of the draw-head, and thereby limit the inward movement of the latches. The inner ends of the latches are beveled inwardly and rearwardly, as shown at E, so as to allow the coupling-link to readilyseparate and pass between them.

My coupling is designed more especially for use with the arrow-head link, (see Fig. 4,) the head of the link being engaged by the latches, as will be readily understood. The latches will pass through the sides of the draw-head and clamp the link between them.

In order that the ordinary pin may be used, I provide on the upper side of the draw-head a vertical cylinder a, in which the couplingpin is mounted. The pin will be supported in an elevated position by the inner ends of the latches projecting thereunder. The ends of the link will be tapered, (see Fig. 5,) so that as it enters the draw-head it will separate the latches and push them from under the pin, which will then fall into engagement with the link. The link is provided with flat sides, so that it can be clamped by the latches; or I may construct the arrow-head link with a longitudinal slot, so that it can be engaged by the pin. The pin can be disengaged from the link by means of a rod or chain secured thereto and passing to the top of the car.

The latches are operated by the levers F F, which have their lower ends pivoted to the outer ends of the latches, and are fulcrumed to a common pointG on the end of the car and extend upward to near the top of the same. A pawl H is pivoted to the upper end of one of the levers and is adapted to engage ratchet-teeth 1, formed on the upper end of the other lever, so as to lock the said levers apart, and consequently hold the latches withdrawn from the draw-head. The levers are normally held together by a spring J, extending between the same and having its opposite ends secured to the levers, and the movement of the levers is limited by a bail or guide K, mounted on the end of the car apd passing over the levers, as shown.

In practice the link is caused to enter the draw-head, and will thereby force the latches apart and be engaged by the inner ends of the same. When it is desired to uncouple the cars, the levers are operated to withdraw the latches, when the link will at once slip from the draw-head.

My device is very simple, and its advantages are thought to be obvious. The latches will be securely held in the draw-head by the spring extending between the lovers, and also by the pawl at the upper ends of the same, which effectually locks them apart. Instead of the single spring extending between the levers, I may employ two springs secured to the draw-head and one secured to each lever.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the crossed levers, the pawl pivoted to the upper end of one of the said levers, engaging ratchet-teeth on the upper end of the other lever, and the latches carried by the lower ends of said levers, as and adapted to support the coupling-pin in set forth. said cylinder, and mechanism for operating 2. The combination of the crossed levers, said latches, as set forth. the bail extending over the same, the spring In testimony that I claim the foregolng' as 5 secured to and extending between said levers, my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in 15 and the latches carried by said levers, as set presence of two witnesses.

forth. XVHITMILL J. EONNER.

The combination, with the draw-head, of itnesses: the cylinder at on the upperside thereof, the G. WV. BOSEFOOT, J 10 latches moving transversely in the draw-head E. E. SHIRLEY. 

